Star Wars: An Old Hope

You know, Star Wars and I haven't really been on speaking terms for a while (we had a fight about Mandalorians, it got ugly, there was hair pulling...and trust me, when a cinnamon bun gets tugged, it's no joke). But now, thanks to Aaron Allston, Timothy Zahn, and now Brian Wood, we may start to be friends again. We say hello when we pass in the hallways, maybe even sit together at lunch...

By which I mean to say, if you're a Star Wars fan -- even a lapsed or casual one -- and you haven't read the new Star Wars comic yet, you really should!

This story starts less than a month after the destruction of the first Death Star. The Rebels are trying to find a new homes, because Yavin was nearly destroyed by the Death Star, and they haven't made it to Hoth yet -- but it looks like there may be a spy in their midst, and it's up to Princess Leia to find out! She'll be helped out by Luke Skywalker and, no doubt, by Han Solo and Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2, and Wedge Antilles; who else will make the team, we'll have to wait for further issues to find out, and I for one cannot wait to see what happens!

You don't need to know anything about Star Wars beyond the movies, because most of the Expanded Universe hasn't even happened yet. If you do know the EU, you'll be excited to see people like Mon Mothma and Wedge Antilles in decent roles. And, no matter how well-versed you are in your Star Wars knowledge, you're bound to be excited by seeing so many X-Wings...and by one pilot's surprising versatility flying a ship that's always been her brother's claim to fame.

Before I jump to hyperspace, let me add one quick word about the artwork: this series has covers by Alex Ross, and those are of course beautiful. The interiors are being handled by Carlos D'anda, who I think does a very nice job. The art it loose and cartoony enough so that you don't feel like you're reading a book of photographs or traced images, but there's enough detail to anchor the story in the reality of Star Wars. The characters are recognizable as their actors (especially Han, who's difficult to draw well), the ships and weapons are technologically accurate, the Wookiee gratifyingly doesn't look anything like a teddy bear, and everything has that battered, used quality that has always so defined this galaxy far, far away. Jan Duursema remains my favorite Star Wars artist, but D'anda may well soon take second place on my list. I certainly look forward to seeing more from him -- and the last page of this first issue, without spoiling anything, was particularly great!

All-in-all, a lovely issue #1, and a great start to what will hopefully be a very long-running series indeed. It's selling fast, but there's a second print due out in the beginning of February, so don't hesitate to ask us to hold you one today!

(And if you need more incentive...the cover to issue #2 shows a particular familiar helmeted bounty hunter...)